Chainsaws and Training

[carbore]

Im thinking of getting a chainsaw for autumn clearing. As I have 5 acres of land with a few tress its a petrol one for sure. Now two Questions.

What make would you recommend for "Occasional Heavy usage" in that im not a contractor or anythign, but some days it could get a lot of use (then nothing for months)
STIHL are great but poss too much £
Royobi seem ok
McCulloch look a bit cheap. They do some popper looking ones but im suspicious of foreign tools whit English/Scottish sounding names.
Victus seem nice too
Any others likely to be £100 to £150 mark

Also is it worth getting training. Im always very careful with tools etc so other than having a licene (to hire a big one say) is there any point other than reading up a lot and not being stupid (e.g. thinking about blade sticking, trees kicking etc)

Thanks
I dont want it to cost an arm and a leg (get it???,, groan)

[paul_humphreys]

Sthil for your needs. As you are doing it for your self you do not need to be quilfied. But you want to get all the right PPE.

Paul

[madmatt]

No offence to you, its not personnel. I've said it before and I'll say it again. It should be illegal to buy a chainsaw untill you can prove you've had some sort of basic training. Chainsaws can be lethal all to easily.

Right Rant over,

Stihl and Husqvarna and the dearer makittas are the only saws worth looking at.  anything else is cheap and nasty.  Once you have bought a saw thats just the start you then need a pair of chainsaw trousers, gloves chainsaw wellies/boots and a combination helmet with visor and earmuffs. thats the basic PPE requirements for chainsaw operation. Plus first aid kit with blood stopper dressings.

Ok you could read a book but in all honesty it won't teach you what the CS30 course will. most agricultural colleges will run it. the courses teaches you the following.

Pre start checks
basic maintenacnce including sharpening the chain
Safe starting procedure
Safety checks prior to use
they will explain kickback zones and tension & compression too
 
Also they should  have videos and examples of how the ppe works.

What kind of work are you wanting to achieve on your land felling? if so do you know how to safely fell a tree and understand the principles of safety zones and escape routes?

This all may sound a bit daunting but chainsaws can be very dangerous and belive me even the seasoned pro's with hrs and hrs of experiance still lern on their refresher training.  I've been using saws 12 years now and I'm still lerning on every course i attend. I've also seen some nasty accidents and the damage it  can do to lives/families. Just as a side issue will you have someone else going to help you with this work? Chainsaw operators should never work alone!

[bravo669]

ive always had a husqvarna job. no trouble so far! Lantra is the qualification to go for. but id reccomend you do any course to get you started. try the local college or wildlife trusts, merry sawing!

[lee celtic]

I've seen a guy hurt cutting 3" round logs that were held in a clamp  :shock:

do a course if nothing else it will look good on a CV.

A few years ago I was in hospital in gabowen (spinal injury) the guy in the next bed was a tree feller and a brand new saw had kicked back and the chain went through his collar bone (brake failed ) it had bounced off his helmet  :shock:

I say get on a course even if it's for one day . and get all the proper ppe.

and if you need any arborist gear give me a shout as we make the stuff ;)

[pinkrover57]

 :oops: Just bought a old 20" Stihl, for chopping a few logs and occasional green lane use, not used a chainsaw for over 30 years. Will have to check out local training. Have been advised that for occasional use especially when laning Chain saw Chaps are more convienient and therefore more like to be used....any comments?.

Lee; I am looking for some PPE in fat B*****d size do you make it that big?


Les

[carbore]

Thanks for the info and no offense taken. I wouldn't of asked if I was going to ignore sound advice!

I think ill sort a course out.

[Lucy1978]

you thought about hiring one just when you need it?
get a decent saw, well sharpenend and the PPE, cost me about £50 for a long weekend when I did it last.  The hire shops do like to see some evidence of training or that you know what you are doing first though.

[carbore]

Unfortunatley the weather is no help re hire. Its allways raining down here in cornwall so I want to have the kit so I can go out if its not chucking it down an blowing a gale! Whilst im no softy there are some issue of safety regard slipping and wavy trees!

Puls I am a tool fetishest and love piles and piles of shiny kit!

[G30RGE]

I have just left Husqvarna after 20 yrs and have also seen what can happen when using a saw.
I would recommend you take some training - and of course the purchase of a Husqvarna saw  :D

[Banjo]

Has anyone seen the trailers on 5 for the new series called  AXE MEN ..? made by the same people as ice road truckers, starts sept 17th ,some of the the things look crazy.

[JumboBeef]

I have a Husqvarna and use it is log up and fell certain trees.  I was trained by a friend who was a tree surgeon.

Make sure you have all the other kit too.  I have a nice hole in my chainsaw trousers to remind me of what would have happened to my leg it I wasn't wearing them at the time (and the saw only just touch them at the time...messy).

[lee celtic]

Sorry we don't do clothing just carabiners , pulleys ,assenders ,desenders and portawraps :D

It might be worth asking the local hire shops if they have any ex rentals for sale they change them quite often.

[Edge]

Husqvarna all day long!!! Steer clear of anything diy store sell.

Edge's top tips of the day... dont get complacent with a chainsaw... it will bite you! Never work holding it above shoulder height! Regular maintenance is the key... blunt chains will strain and stretch... may snap and you possibly will regret that, when the chain tears into your personal bits.

Think about what the guys have said... you definately need to know how taught the chain should or shouldnt be.

A chain needs to be sharpened (at least) every 4-5hrs of use...depending on whether its hard or soft wood.

[Manicminer]

Stihl or Husqvarna and make sure it's 60cc or over if it's going to get hard work.

Blunt chains knackers the saw and your back ;)

Wear safety trousers/chaps, proper chainsaw safety boots, proper gloves, helmet with visor and earmuffs.

Get training.

Not much change from £700-£800 not including the training  8-[

If it's only a couple of Saturday worth of work, it might be cheaper paying someone to do the work for you.

[jonny ramrod]

stihl every time for me..

and as has already been said, get some basic training and some ppe..

better to be safe than sorry..

[laser_jock99]

We use 15" Husqvarna- other than getting it re-sharpened occasionally have had no probs.

PPE- get leg, foot and face protection. My uncle wasn't wearing his face mask while doing some carving work (with a specialized carving saw) the blade kicked back and went straight through his jawbone. Nasty!

[JumboBeef]

Just is me, trying to clear some of the 200 trees I had at my last place......................



(I've got braces now cos the trousers kept falling down! :lol: )

[blueboar]

We use Husqvarna, for trainging you want to go through Lantra,

http://cornwall.floodlight.co.uk/cornwall/courses-classes-lessons/lynher-training/subject/qualification/study/region/16180339/220706/100/11619/domain.html

and

http://cornwall.floodlight.co.uk/cornwall/courses-classes-lessons/best-forestry-timber-production-courses/qualification/study/region/16180339/220706/100/domain.html



bb

[Defender]

One other bit of safety advice I would give is, as soon as the saw finishes the cut, apply the chain brake, even if you intend to cut again straight away. It's easy to apply the brake with the back of your left hand whilst still holding the saw.

[mike142sl]

Just is me, trying to clear some of the 200 trees I had at my last place......................



(I've got braces now cos the trousers kept falling down! :lol: )

Madmatt is absolutely right when he expresses his concern about accessibility to these saws.

I'm sorry to say that although the PPE looks impressive it proved totally inadequate for my Son's friend last week. He was a professional fully trained tree feller working in a domestic residence, wearing all the necessary PPE as you are in the above picture, when he got kick back.

I can't describe the injuries here but the saw bounced up onto his neck which as you can see from your picture is not protected by the visor. As you might expect his injuries were horrific and he spent two days in a coma before loosing his fight for life last Friday (10th Oct). He was 21.

His funeral takes place next Monday.

[discomummy]

Hi,

mike, that is truly awful about your friend's son - it must have been devastating.

i was in a hospital with one of the girls when we lived in australia, and a guy turned up with blood all over him, he was using a chain saw wearing just jeans & it slipped!

needless to say - we let him go in front of us in the queue (we merely had several ticks that needed to be removed from lauren!)

regards

ela

[madmatt]

Mike,

I've read alot about the accident on the tree climbers forum it is truly sad, though it proves the point that even someone who has done all the training cna have an accident.

PPE is a control measure to reduce a risk it will never completely stop cuts! I've got a scar to prove  it! The industry is getting better and better and although your friends death is incredibly sad hopefully a few more companies will learn from his sad loss of life.


As for Axe men sorry I can't watch it! - They are a bunch of muppets that need a good slapping! any industry that looses 100 men a year needs closing down!

[carbore]

Very sorry to hear about that, but thanks for posting it, people need to be told/reminded.

[Devon-Rover]

Makita / Dolmar
Efco.

Wouldn't touch a Sthil or a husky.
Although the smaller Top handle Dolmars and Sthils have an slightly dubious reliability issue at the moment.


(The above advice from my dad)

[MrTFWitt]

Sorry to hear about the accident Mike, a powerful reminder these are not big boys toys.

I was chatting to a work colleague about garden tools and he turned it into a game of top trumps and seemed to think he had won by having a petrol saw compared to my weedy electric B&Q special.

He had until I asked him what protective gear he had to go with it.......

I have lent mine to a neighbour on a couple of occasions and each time he has come back injured, minor stuff like a lump on the head where the tree stump fell the wrong way or an eye full of crap because he hadnt remembered to put the visor on.
Looks like it will be conveniently broken next time he wants to use it, I'll buy some new blades for the wet wood saw instead.

[Cal]

I can't agree strongly enough with the above posts - get some recognised training - as much as you can afford and also consider asking a mate who knows what they're doing to help you out once you've done your training so he/she can keep an eye on you whilst you get more practice and confidence. Take your time, and be patient - same as using any tool but c'saws are obviously more dangerous than most.

I've used Stihl and Husqvarna and like both and would def in general recommend a higher end make - you usually get what you pay for but you also get the servicing and parts support you need. Go and do your training and then perhaps discuss size of saw with the instructor.

[william127]

Stihl ms 170s are brilliant value saws at £170 and cut anything up to 10 inches across despite being very light. we use them all the time for landscaping and tree work.